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I recently accepted a position from Teach and Learn with Georgia, a Georgian Ministry of Education program designed to bring native speakers of English into classrooms around the country. I will be moving to Georgia in August of 2014 to begin my assignment.

Before this latest adventure, I studied at Bogazici University in Istanbul Turkey and at Azerbaijan University of Languages. I speak English German Spanish, Turkish Azerbaijani and Uzbek and am currently trying my hand at Georgian.

Monday, July 6, 2015

My babies are growing up!

Whoo boy has a lot happened since the last post. I’m so
excited to get home and see you all and tell you all the crazy stories about my
life and the insanity that is it, but I should probably update this
occasionally too, just to reassure you that I’m alive still. That is, again,
till I’m home, when you will all know I am because I will spend hours
afflicting my pictures and anecdotes on you. Until you regret asking me how
Georgia was. I’m currently about 2 months behind on this blog and I’m not super
sure that I’m going to catch up in my final 2 weeks in country. Let me give you
a couple of highlights.

The main character in this drama. This is 13/16 seniors, better than I ever got in class

I’m sure my seniors would have to hear me call them my
babies. But I’m so proud of those kids it’s a little ridiculous. I am betting I
grow up to be at least as bad as my own father, who will brag to anyone on the
planet about how exceptional his kids are. For hours. I apologize for everyone
who gets stuck next to him on the plane with nowhere to escape. And now I know
that is exactly what I am going to be, but worse. I’ve taught these kids for a
single year and I almost started crying at their graduation ceremony. This
ceremony is called ‘bolo zari’ or last bell. It started late (what else is new)
and the kids had decorated the day before with balloons and posters. They had
white dress shirts and aprons, each with its own distinctive drawing on it and
the rest of the space was being written on by fellow students and teachers,
farewell notes as it were. Some students insisted I write on their shirts,
other siblings insisted that I write on their older brother or sisters’ shirts.

Each kid got a
dramatic introduction and to walk out in front of all their peers (we started
during 5th period, but classes had essentially ceased after two
periods). There were a couple of short speeches by parents/teachers (several of
my seniors have parents who are teachers) and by the students themselves. Lasha
read a poem, Jemo danced and a couple girls sang. I find the utter lack of
insecurity here really refreshing. Of course you sing and dance and speak in
public. It’s just what you do. The 11th graders had several dance
routines and a ton of short comedy sketches, which were hilarious. I even
understood some of the punch lines, which is surprising. A bunch of community
members came to watch the proceedings, but not as many parents as I had
thought. Just as the show was about to break up, Rashibo, the MC for the event
(and most events in town it seems, he’s one of my 10th graders)
announced that I had a gift for each of the kids (which I did). Being the
conclusion wasn’t exactly what I had expected/wanted but with some translation
help from Roma (newly graduated) I gave each of the kids a journal I had bought
in the US with a personal note and my contact information. They seemed
surprised and some were really pleased. I suspect most of them have lost them
by now, but no matter.

And then we had dancing, pictures, clean up and a massive
supra in the teachers room. I had cake at least once a day that entire week
since parents kept bringing food to the teachers and I never say no to cake. I
was teaching my after school program that week and I heard a knock on the door.
One of the administrators was at the door saying that I was wanted in the
kitchen. My first reaction was “oh shoot” I figured I was in trouble for
something I had done (playing music too loud? Letting the class get a little
crazy? Climbing out the window when we got locked into the building that one
time? Giving the kids chocolate? Eating the edible plants on break with my
girls?). I walked to the kitchen like I was facing a firing squad. When I got
there, about 10 folks were seated around a table. They turned to me as I came
in “Hannah, torti ginda? (do you want cake?)”. It was super delicious cake too.
Full points to the hospitality class that includes my friends Gio, Lasha and
Mischa. Good work boys.

The following Monday we had the final banquet. This is for
parents teachers and our recently graduated 12th form. I had a full
4 hours warning of when it was going to be, but I decided that from what my
kids had been telling me, I needed to put the effort into my appearance for
this shindig. I got new nylons, since I can’t wear them more than twice without
tearing them to shreds (whoever let me graduate the ‘this is how you be an
adult’ class was sadly mistaken). I washed my hair and got out my dress from
the wedding. I actually put on makeup and when I emerged downstairs the entire
family was shocked. That embarrassing moment when people don’t believe you can
look that good. I was told I looked like a doll, but I’m not sure if that’s a
good or a bad thing. I was told that the banquet would begin at 7pm. I made the
mistake of being ready at 7 as a result. At about 7:45 Jener Mas (who also
happens to be my host grandfather) came over, dressed to kill. Nato was ready
by about 8 and we went to the school to pick up the speakers. We made it to the
restaurant where they were holding the banquet at about 8:30. We were the first
ones there. After much cajoling and arguing we were let into the banquet room
at about 9:15. Finally around 10pm the kids came roaring in, having clearly
pre-gamed the event hard in some cases and the party kicked off.

We all sat around a massive table that was set for us with
salad, bread and some cold dishes already. And drinks. There was pop along with
a bottle of vodka for every half dozen folks or so and a huge plastic barrel
containing about 30 liters of wine. At least. Did I mention we were about 50
with some abstainers? Now, I had walked in thinking that it might be a little
awkward to get drunk with a) your coworkers (though this the least so since
I’ve already gotten drunk with them on many occasions, a tradition I wish I could
bring back to some staff rooms in the US. It certainly lightens up teachers
meetings) b) the parents of your students, all of whom are a good 20 years your
senior but still treat you with a great deal of respect since you’re a teacher
and c) young men and women who ceased to be your students a week ago. I can now
confirm, it’s not awkward at all! At least in Georgia it isn’t.

The hot dishes started coming out and Jemal was picked as
the tamada since Lasha and Roma were both too terrified to do it. He was
clearly nervous but he did a good job. I started wedged in with the other
teachers, listening, eating and drinking (my 3 months of sobriety had just
ended so I drank slowly figuring I didn’t need to be the hot mess of the
evening). They put some music on and Jemal was also called upon to dance since
he went professional about a year ago. Did I mention that my kids are insanely
talented? I couldn’t resist hitting the floor when the ‘modern’ music came on
and my kids who hadn’t seen me dance at the wedding were all pleasantly
shocked. Maybe an hour and a half into the party we went outside to watch the
fireworks that we had bought for the event and send up paper lanterns, the ones
with wax that you light so they fill with hot air and then they fly. We managed
not to catch anyone on fire though it was a close call with Mari’s dress. We
went back inside to continue eating drinking hanging out and dancing. The kids
insisted that I come join them at their end so I was placed next to Jemo, which
I considered quite an honor since he was the man of the hour.

I might not be a Svan princess, but gosh darn it I am trying.

Round about 2:30am the teachers and parents got up to leave
and I stood with them. Every student I went to hug said “Hannah Mas, you can’t
go!”. Roma, my best English student, put it quite eloquently “Hannah, you’re
not like the other teachers. Stay with us.” With Nato’s permission I stayed,
since Dato (18) was DDing and promised to bring me home. I was very impressed
with him and Beqa, who was the other DD. These young men just finished school
and are at a giant party with their friends to celebrate. But neither of them
touched a drop of alcohol. A couple of parents stayed out in the main room,
saying they would wait for the kids to finish. It was then that I discovered
there was perhaps an ulterior motive. The students assured the parents they
could go home since “Hannah Mas is here. We have an adult to look after us”.
Clever kids. The parents did eventually go at the urging of Murtaz Mas and the
kids turned the banquet room into a disco. We danced and laughed and I had two
boys ask for dance lessons so they can pick up girls in Tbilisi. Because isn’t
that what a good teacher is for?

Around 4:30am I found Dato and said that I was done, being
an old lady as I am. Roma walked me to the door and Dato drove me home. The
cops immediately pulled us over but since Dato was clearly sober we were let
go. I crawled into bed around 4:45 and woke up blissfully clear-headed and
without school since it was Independence Day. Most of my kids went to the
concert and Jemal was dancing. Average hours of sleep in the group? 1. Most of
my students left within the next week for Tbilisi to study there for university
exams which just started and continue until the 14th of this month.
I saw a couple of them when I was in the capital for my final ceremony as a TLG
Teacher. I plan to say goodbye when I get to Tbilisi before I fly out. I taught
my seniors 4 days a week all year, and while I never had a day when every kid
came to class, I grew to know most of them quite well, and they know me. I
can’t speak as an expert since everyone in town has known them longer than I
have, but I have had the privilege of knowing them in my own special way, since
they seem willing to talk to me about things they won’t with other teachers. I
get to ride the line between peer and authority, friend and teacher. And I love
these kids, and am so exceptionally proud of each and every one of them. I
cannot wait to see what their futures bring for them; because I have no doubt
that they will be bright.

I graduated from Michigan State University in 2014 with degrees in chemistry, anthropology and Turkic languages. When not out globetrotting, I can be found perched in front of my laptop, sharing my adventures with you.